The Enemy have claimed that they won the NME Best New Band Award because of their lyrics.

Singer Tom Clarke believes the group are a "band for the people" which makes songs that are "straight to the point".

He told the Daily Star: "It was really nice to be nominated but especially nice to win - because the public vote for it. We are a band for the people.

"There is no right or wrong way to write a song but I think good lyrics that get straight to the point are essential to success."

Clarke argued that Manic Street Preachers were awarded the Godlike Genius accolade for the same reason.

He added: "Manics don’t muck about with sh*t metaphors - they get straight to the point. Bands like Manics or Oasis you can really associate with. It’s obvious what they’re about. They are real people."

Clarke performed with the Manics after the awards ceremony at the NME Big Gig, joining the three-piece for a run through their single 'You Love Us'.

Gordon Brown and Andy Burnham both claim to listen to them on their iPods, but the Arctic Monkeys received a slightly hipper seal of approval last night when they were called the "Oasis of their generation" by the New Musical Express.

The Sheffield rockers scooped three gongs at the NME awards at London's O2 centre, including the biggie, best British band, as well as best track for " Fluorescent Adolescent" from their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, and best video for "Teddy Picker".

The latest crop of awards comes after last week's Brits when, clad in plus-fours, tweed jackets and flat caps, they picked up prizes for best band and best British album. Unlike the previous year, the band actually turned up to collect their awards but they may have wished they had not made the effort when the organisers turned the sound down to foil lead singer Alex Turner and his mockery of the Brit School, the state performing arts school whose alumni include Kate Nash and Amy Winehouse.

The comparison with Oasis will be music to the ears of the Arctic Monkeys, who were inspired by the band to start making music.

Noel Gallagher once said: "The Arctic Monkeys came in our dressing room and Alex was saying he got a guitar because of Oasis. So I asked him, 'How old were you when Definitely Maybe came out?' He was nine! That bent my head. "

It was MySpace that kickstarted the Arctic Monkeys' phenomenon. When the band – Turner and Andy Nicholson, Matt Helders and Jamie Cook – started to play gigs, first at The Grapes pub in Sheffield and later at the Sheffield Forum, they handed out free demo CDs, which were uploaded on to the internet by fans......

28 February 2008

Fresh from praising The Zutons to the heights before the Capital of Culture launch, it seems Ringo Starr just can’t get enough of the Scouse indie stars.

The former Beatle popped in for a surprise visit to see the band, who are currently in Los Angeles, recording the follow-up to the multi-platinum selling albums Who Killed The Zutons? and Tired Of Hanging Around.

The album is being recorded at Sunset Sound Studios, and Ringo thought he’d make a spur of the moment stop off to say hello while visiting son Zak Starkey, who is in town mixing the forthcoming Oasis album.

“I was sitting outside when my jaw dropped cos Ringo had just pulled up in front of me. I was proper shocked and ran over to him and gave him a big hug,” says stunning saxophonist Abi Harding.

“He came in and talked to us a bit. He said he liked the way I played sax, so I was made up all day. It was boss to meet him.”

Standing on the Shoulder of Giants is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Oasis, released on February 28, 2000. In 1999, the year preceding the final release of this album, Oasis had lost two founding members (Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs and Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan) and hired a new producer (Mark "Spike" Stent). As a result of these changes, the album's tone was more experimental, with electronica and psychedelic influences. The darker feeling and psychedelic tone of this album is a departure from earlier Britpop-influenced Oasis records.

Songs such as the Indian-influenced "Who Feels Love?", the progressive "Gas Panic!" and the electronica "Go Let It Out" depart from Oasis' old Britpop style. The album was the sixth fastest selling album in UK chart history, selling over 310,000 copies in its first week. Despite becoming their fourth number one album in the UK, it is one of the band's lowest-selling albums, selling only 3 million copies worldwide.

Trivia

The album's title was taken from the words of Sir Isaac Newton: "If I can see further than anyone else, it is only because I am standing on the shoulders of giants". Noel Gallagher saw the quote on the side of a £2 coin whilst in a pub and liked it so much he thought it would be a suitable name for Oasis' new album. He then wrote the name on the side of a cigarette packet whilst drunk. When he awoke in the morning, he realised he had written "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants — A Bum Title".

Due to the departure of Bonehead and Guigsy from the band whilst the album was in production, their parts had to be re-recorded, for legal reasons. Thus, the album only features the Gallagher brothers and Alan White. The sleeve of the album also features them.

The first track, "Fuckin' in the Bushes", is featured on the soundtrack for the film Snatch, and is regularly used in introductions for high-tempo events, due to its quick tempo and loud volume.

In the April 2006 issue of Q magazine, the album was the only Oasis record to feature in a countdown of the "50 worst albums of all time". It was placed at number 46 and described as "the low point of their fallow years", despite the fact that the album had been favourably reviewed in the magazine at its time of release and featured in the magazine's "50 Best Albums of 2000" list. In response to the Q feature, Noel has said, "Even though it wasn't our finest hour, it's a good album born through tough times. I worked harder on that album than anything before and anything since."

A notable B-Side was Lets All Make Believe. This song was on the Go Let It Out single and is said to be one of the bands finest songs. Q Magazine declared it the greatest ever "lost" track in the February 2007 issue and said that if it was on the album it would have carried "an extra star" on the review. Q gave this album 4 Stars back in 2000, meaning an extra star would be 5 stars. So with Lets All Make Believe on the album, according to Q magazine's logic, SOTSOG would have been a 5 star classic.

Demos

A bootleg of demo sessions recorded for this album was leaked onto the internet in January 2000. Most of these songs were recorded by Noel Gallagher with the help of a couple of friends in his home studio at Supernova Heights and at Oasis' own Wheeler End Studios complex. All of the songs, apart from "Little James", were sung by Noel.

The tracklisting of the demo bootleg is:

"Carry Us All""Who Feels Love?""Fuckin' in the Bushes""Little James""Gas Panic!"Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is""Sunday Morning Call""I Can See a Liar""Go Let It Out""Roll It Over""Revolution Song""Where Did It All Go Wrong?""(As Long As They've Got) Cigarettes in Hell""Just Getting Older""Let There Be Love"

At the time of the leak, four songs ("Carry Us All", "Revolution Song", "Just Getting Older" and "Let There Be Love") were not scheduled for release on either the album or as B-sides on the new single "Go Let It Out". These songs were also completely undocumented, apart from "Revolution Song", which had been mentioned by author Paolo Hewitt in his 1999 book Forever the People — Six Months on the Road with Oasis. As such, these four songs had made-up titles based on commonly-repeated phrases mentioned in the songs. Whilst "Carry Us All" and "Just Getting Older" were correctly guessed, the other two tracks were given titles which, in time, would prove to be incorrect. "Revolution Song" was given the title "Solve My Mystery" and "Let There Be Love" was given the title "It's a Crime". "Let There Be Love" was released on Don't Believe the Truth. Because Noel mentioned in a February 23, 2000 interview with Melody Maker magazine that "Revolution Song" had been demoed — but not released because Blur had recently released a similar sounding song — it can be assumed that these titles are correct.

Currently, only one song ("Revolution Song") remains commercially unreleased.

Oasisinet are giving you the chance to win a selection of Promotional CD's and Vinyl from their back catalogue. These are very limited in quantity and have never been available in the shops so are a must-have for any Oasis fan's collection!

All you have to do is click here! This will take you to a video on the band's official YouTube page. If you can name the track the band are talking about, email 'thefans@oasisinet.com' with the track name in the subject box. Include your contact details in the email and we'll pick the lucky winner on Monday 17th March.

When you sit and think about Manchester (its art, its music)… have you ever thought what the city really needs is more Madchester?

More Madchester music.

More images of Madchester.

And ideally an exhibition of all things Madchester to be held in… a hotel lobby? I suspect not.

Nevertheless, a new exhibition, comprising all of these elements is to open at City Inn at an exclusive private view tonight.

But the exhibition by Snap Galleries, significantly titled ‘Not Fade Away’, could throw up some quite strong images.

Focusing on Manchester’s best-known musicians the installation will feature limited edition prints taken by eminent photographers from the sixties to the present day. Subjects will include 90s Britpoppers Oasis and former Stone Roses front man Ian Brown.

It’s an exhibition that will definitely appeal to the many tourists passing through the hotel’s lobby. Whether it will appeal to Madchester-weary Mancunians remains to be seen.

The are now just two days left until this year's Shockwaves NME Awards.

Voting has now closed, and the final preparations are being made as we add up all of your votes to see which of this year's nominees will be picking up the awards the ceremony on Thursday (February 28).

Arctic Monkeys lead the way with seven nominations in total, but they will face stiff competition from the likes of Klaxons, The Cribs and My Chemical Romance, who have also picked up several nods.

The ceremony itself takes place at its new home of the IndigO2 in London, and you can get involved in this year’s ceremony yourself.

After we’ve finished handing out the prizes, everyone will be heading over to the neighbouring O2 Arena for the Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig.

Featuring Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Klaxons, The Cribs and this year’s Godlike Geniuses the Manic Street Preachers, you could join in the action by being there.

Simply head to NME.COM/biggig now for more information and tickets.

Plus there will also be a special aftershow party featuring The Futureheads playing live in IndigO2. Don't miss it - tickets are onsale now.

Oasis have been nominated in two categories for this years Awards 2008.

25 February 2008

Noel Gallagher is flogging his Ibiza villa to get away from pop irritant James Blunt.

The rocker has put the gaff up for sale – for £5.5million – because it is too close to Blunt’s.

Lord Noel can’t relax in his holiday Oasis knowing Blunt is just a CD’s toss away.

He is also worried about bumping into the annoying-voiced toff out and about on the sunshine island.

A pal revealed: “Noel has been going to Ibiza every summer for years. But he wants to find a new holiday destination.

“He’s fed up of hearing James Blunt bang on about Ibiza like he owns the place. It’s taken the charm out of it for him so he’s put his villa up for sale.

“It’s very close to Blunt’s place, and he says he can’t stand the thought of Blunt writing cr*p tunes up the road.”

Noel stands to make a tidy profit on the sale. He bought the villa for £2.5million in 1999 from Tubular Bells creator Mike Oldfield. He even kept some of Oldfield’s specially made carpets, which had the Tubular Bells symbol woven into them.

The Oasis legend has spent most of his summers there since. His lovely missus Sara Macdonald also loved it.

Epic

But things started going downhill after Blunt bought a nearby villa in 2006 and became one of Ibiza’s most famous residents.

His hit 1973 was inspired by the island’s superclub Pacha, and his irritating vocals are hardly ever off local radio.

At least Noel is getting a break from him at the moment.

The guitarist is in Los Angeles putting the finishing touches to his band’s next album. Brother Liam is also back in the States after jetting to London for his Valentine’s Day wedding to Nicole Appleton.

I can’t wait to hear the lads’ new material. Apparently it’s a bit more psychedelic than previous offerings.

I’m told one of the tracks is an absolute epic, featuring a 50-voice choir. Sounds mega.

Of course, Noel will have to find somewhere new to relax and put his feet up after finishing the project.

Sunny Ibiza is now out of the question thanks to that Factor 50 idiot Blunt.

24 February 2008

The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, Peter Hook and Badly Drawn Boy united last night (February 23) for a special one-off performance.

The musicians came together for the annual Manchester Versus Cancer gig at the MEN Arena.

The makeshift super group played covers of ‘Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want’ by The Smiths, ‘Let The Sunshine In’ from the musical ‘Hair’, Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ and ‘Instant Karma’ by John Lennon.

The collaboration closed the five-hour concert, which also saw performances from bands such as The Enemy, The View, Happy Mondays and The Fratellis.

This year’s event took on extra poignancy after the death of Factory Records’ Tony Wilson last summer from the disease.

The Farm chose to dedicate their most famous hit ‘All Together Now’ to the music mogul, and ex-New Order bassist Hook paid tribute to him, saying: "Rest in peace, Tony."

Hometown heroes Happy Mondays received a rapturous welcome, with Shaun Ryder and Bez indulging in some rough play fights.

Other highlights included the massive sing-alongs that greeted The Fratellis’ ‘Chelsea Dagger’ and The View’s ‘Same Jeans’, as well as The Enemy’s blistering headline set.

The fundraiser was the third to be held in successive years. Ex-Smith Rourke is the driving force behind the show as a trustee of the Versus Cancer charity, which is dedicated to making a difference to those suffering from cancer both in the UK and around the world.

Rewriting the reputation of charity gigs, Manchester Versus Cancer has become the ultimate back-patter's bash to be at.

In its inaugural year, it brought together New Order, Johnny Marr, Shaun Ryder, Badly Drawn Boy and Doves in a holy hoe-down into the wee hours.

Last year, The Charlatans and Noel Gallagher hooked up with Paul Weller and Ian Brown was reunited with old Stone Roses bassist Mani. All of it, magical stuff.

And so, it's been with a slightly nervous eye that punters and critics alike have scanned the schedule for year three: The Enemy, The Fratellis, The Happy Mondays (pictured), Fun Lovin' Criminals, Athlete, The View, The Inspiral Carpets and The Farm.

They're all household names, but do they lack the profile (and many the Mancunian roots) of previous headliners?

The organisers say that its what the public want - a "mixture of old and new that supporters have been asking for in what promises to be a night of cutting edge music and Manchester legends".

Certainly The Enemy and The View are indie royalty (and potentially stadium fillers, if this gig goes well) and the Mondays have gone through a much lauded rebirth since frontman Shaun went 'straight'.

Merits

The truth, though, is that you can argue over the merits of this collection of indie greats until the proverbial cows come home but, whatever way you look at it, £40 is a steal of a price for what will undoubtedly be a fabulous night in the name of a good cause.

A raft of DJs are also lined up to fill the gaps during the five-hour marathon fundraiser, which has even had to move its door time to 6.30pm just to fit everything in. It's a wise move; in previous years, scheduling everyone with a dressing room some time on stage has been something of a well-managed struggle.

So far, the Versus Cancer team has raised around £250,000 for local cancer services.

They hope to top the million mark this year, through this show and by continuing with other associated events and stunts (auctions and exhibitions have followed the original gig in 2006, and then there was Rourke's record breaking busk...).

You know how you can help.

Versus Cancer is at the M.E.N. Arena on Saturday, February 23 and includes performances from The Fratellis, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, The View, Athlete, The Enemy, The Farm and Fun Lovin' Criminals. Tickets are priced at £40 and are available from Ticketmaster, See Tickets and Ticketline. For more information visit www.versuscancer.org. Tickets for The Aftershow are £5 in advance and if there’s any space it will be £8 on the door on the night, with proceeds going towards fighting cancer.

Item description: This is one of the rarest Oasis items to apear on eBay for years! The Oasis LIVE DEMONSTRATION demo cassette. This is an original BASF CHROME cassette from march 1993 containing the following demo tracks:1. Rock 'N' Roll Star2. Columbia3. Wanna Be A Spaceman4. Strangething5. Bring It On Down6. Married With Children7. Fade Away

All seven tracks are DEMO versions, and not the same as the released versions. The track "Strangething" was never released.

This cassette comes with all documentation. It comes with certificate of authenticity letter from Steve Herman, who was the Entertainment Officer at the Students Union at the University of Surrey from June 1993 untill June 1994 (see picture below). This is also comfirmed by the Students Union in Surrey, and comes with documentation from this union as well (see picture below). Steve Herman was offered to book Oasis for £200, and therefore he got this demo cassette from Ben Winchester at Iginition Management. Steve Herman never booked Oasis - bad decission.

This demo cassette was made by Ignition Management after they signed Oasis (Oasis was signed to Creation through Ignition Management). It was made directly from the original live demonstration cassette.

While the band are busy in the studio, Oasisinet have been busy updating their various online sites. We'll be updating them with the latest news as well as uploading photos, classic videos and lots more! Why not check them out:

Noel Gallagher's historic Wheeler End studio is being threatened with closure - but NME is going to let one act use the legendary studios.

After almost a decade, Noel is giving up his lease on the studio and it's owners, Suzanne Lee-Barnes and Geoff Coupland, have decided to sell the house and recording facility.

The Buckingham pad, incorporating a main control room, converted barn and full accommodation, in picturesque rolling hills, was rented to Noel in 1998, just in time to record Oasis' 2000 album 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants'

Since then the studio has been used for laying down tracks for 'Heathen Chemistry' and 'Don't Believe The Truth' albums - large sections of 'Lyla' were laid down here - as well as for records by the likes of The Coral and Ian Brown.

"Noel turned 40 and had a baby and I think he just wants to de-clutter his life," explained Lee-Barnes of the decision not to renew the lease. "They had many years here and I think it just run its course."

Noel has moved out roughly 160 guitars and other equipment ahead of the studio going up for sale for a supersonic £3.9million but, although the two massive mixing desks are still on site, there are no guarantees about Wheeler End's future. If sold, it could be turned into luxury flats.

"We're hoping it will stay a studio," explained Lee Barnes. "But, there's no way of guaranteeing that. Wheeler End is such a good location for bands to record - it's always good to create this bubble where people can be inspired and create."

It would mean the end of the studio's rich musical history. Other musicians who've recorded there include Paul Weller, Bill Wyman and George Harrison.

"Paul Weller recorded most of his 'Illumination' album here in the barn. I always remember he liked to start the day off with a glass of Chateauneuf!" laughs Lee-Barnes, whose family ate dinner with the artists after most recording sessions.

It's a dinner table that's hosted more than its fair share of rock talent including Robert Plant, Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera, Sam Brown and Frida Lyngstad from Abba.

Last year, The Coral laid down tracks for their 'Roots & Echoes' album after Noel invited them to use the studio for free. "James [Skelly] is the most prolific songwriter I have ever known," says Lee-Barnes who started managing bands in her teens in the late '60s.

"There were up to 14 of them sleeping here.I was touched and impressed by how tight they are as a unit. "We had to have three dinner sittings that night!" laughs Lee-Barnes' husband Geoff, who carried out the barn renovation work.

However, it was Oasis who put their mark on Wheeler End. For years the kitchen housed a custom-made fridge designed by Marshall that looked like one of their amps - that is until Noel gave it to Kasabian as a present. One of Gallagher Senior's signed Union Jack Epiphone guitars is still in the family's dining room, ready to be auctioned off at a ChildLine event at indig02 on March 13.

Coupland is certain that Liam and Noel will be back to visit them at some time, as they love Suzanne's cooking too much "Liam was the most regular visitor to the studio and apparently the most hard-working of the band, preferring to stay in a cottage next door rather than travel back to London every day.

"Liam was always the first here, he loved it." says Lee-Barnes. "Before the others even arrived he would have been up working on his songs. And he only had a drink in the evening. His favourite tipples were champagne, tequila or Jack Daniel's - straight, of course!

"Oasis are an unbelievably creative band. Usually they'd all get here at midday, have some lunch and start work. Arguments? Well I'm not going to tell you, we're to good friends with Noel!"

NME has teamed up with Wheeler End to allow one act to use the studio - see this weeks magazine for details - and along with the chance of working in the same place as the greats, there's a chance the winner could make history.

"Whoever wins," explains Lee-Barnes, "could be the last band to ever play at Wheeler End."

20 February 2008

With Britpop at its height, the night of the 1996 ceremony proved to be something of a changing of the old guard.

After being presented with the best British band award by INXS singer Michael Hutchence, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher dismissed the 80’s rocker with the stinging line: "Has-beens shouldn't be presenting awards to gonna-bes."

Hutchence later responded by secretly back-masking the line “better than Oasis” over the INXS track Elegantly Wasted.

Robbie Williams offers Liam Gallagher out

Clearly filled with Dutch courage after picking up two awards that evening, fearsome former boy band star Robbie Williams challenged his pop nemesis Liam Gallagher to a fight during the 2000 ceremony.

The former Take That singer said: "So, anybody like to see me fight Liam?

"Would you pay to come and see it?"

"We'll get in a ring and we'll have a fight."

Somewhat conveniently for Williams, Oasis were on tour in Japan at the time.

The group has been in development since 2004, a delay Hook puts down to commitments in the members’ other bands.

He said: “We started it funnily enough, Mani and I, as a reaction because our groups New Order and Primals had been stalled, and then miraculously our groups started up again so it went on the back burner for a long time.

“Rourkie plays guitar a lot, Mani and I balance each other out. He plays low and I play high. It actually works well.”

He says: “We played the V festival in 2003 at Weston Park and Liam Gallagher was stood at the side of the stage watching us. During the Chelmsford leg, we had Noel watching us.

“Afterwards he came up to me and said: ‘Why were you lobbing the mike through the air round your head?’ I said: ‘Noel, I’ve been round long enough that I don’t need your permission!’”

Noel Gallagher was originally a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets, helping them behind the scenes on world tours before finding superstardom with his brother’s band Oasis.

He adds: “One book on the Manchester came out recently and it had about 50 pages on the Stone Roses, 50 on Oasis, 35 on Happy Mondays and then a quarter of a page on us. And that quarter of a page was just dismissive of us.

“The revisionism makes out our band was rubbish but we were one of the top three bands in the country in 1990.

“Stone Roses were a marvellous band, who were better looking than us and better songwriters.

“But we created a fashion and we had really good songs. We were really, really good.”

While the Inspirals enjoyed a string of chart hits, their psychedelic side brought them the endorsement of a run of sessions for the late Radio One DJ John Peel.

Hingley says: “The band did about five or six of them. One of my proudest moments was headlining the Reading Festival in 1990. We played to 80,000 people and my dad was there to watch me for the first time.

He adds: “We get a lot of 30-something blokes at our gigs but we also get the young kids who know us from the bands who we influenced like Maximo Park, Richard Ashcroft, Oasis, the Fratellis and Kaiser Chiefs.”

Hingley hopes the Inspirals will produce some new material but he warns fans not to expect anything in the near future.

“We are working on some new stuff but I wouldn’t hold your breath,” he explains.

“For us to put it out, it’ll have to be the best stuff we have ever done. We wouldn’t want to put out anything we didn’t really want people to hear.”

The honeymoon's over already for newlyweds Liam Gallagher and Nicole Appleton - the Oasis singer is off to the U.S. to record the band's new album.

After seven years together and a six-year-old son Gene, the couple finally tied the knot on Valentine's Day at Westminster Registry Office - the same venue Liam wed his first wife Patsy Kensit in 1997.

But after only four days of wedded bliss, Liam has been forced to leave his 33-year-old bride at home in London to join brother Noel and bandmates Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Zak Starkey at a Los Angeles recording studio.

The pair were spotted kissing each other goodbye on the steps of their north London home yesterday as Liam prepared to fly Stateside.

As the newlyweds said their goodbyes, their son Gene - dressed in matching Ugg boots with his mother - seemed more interested in playing on his scooter.

Liam, 35, had been recording the group's seventh album - a follow-up to 2005's Don't Believe The Truth - in LA and temporarily left the band to fly back to Britain specially for the wedding.

Liam's older brother Noel was a noticeable absentee at the nuptials, but Nicole's sister and former All Saints bandmate Natalie and her husband, Progidy star Liam Howlett were in attendance, along with Liam's son Lennon, from his first marriage to Patsy.

Following the civil ceremony, the couple hosted a small soiree at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone.

A friend of the couple said: "They felt like they were married anyway.

"He's worn a ring on his wedding finger for years to show his commitment.

"But he decided it was the right time and the wedding was completely hush-hush."

"Don't Look Back in Anger" is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by the band's guitarist, Noel Gallagher. Released as the fourth and final single from their hit second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? it was , released on the 19th February 1996. The song became the band's second single to reach #1 in the United Kingdom charts, and the first to feature Noel replacing Liam Gallagher on lead vocals. The title is perhaps a play on the song "Look Back in Anger", from David Bowie's Lodger album or on the play by John Osborne of the same title from which Bowie's song took inspiration.

Noel said of the song "[It] reminds me of a cross between 'All the Young Dudes' and summat the Beatles might've done." Of the character "Sally" referred to in the song he commented, "I don't actually know anybody called Sally. It's just a word that fitted, y'know, might as well throw a girl's name in there. It's gotta guarantee somebody a shag off a bird called Sally hasn't it?". Noel claims that the character "Lyla", from Oasis' 2005 single is the sister of Sally. In the interview on the DVD released with the special edition of Stop the Clocks, Noel also revealed that a girl approached him and asked him if Sally was the same girl as in the Stone Roses' track Sally Cinnamon. Noel replied that he'd never thought of that, but thought it was good anyway.

Noel admits that certain lines from the song are lifted from John Lennon: "I got this tape in The United States that had apparently been burgled from the Dakota Hotel and someone had found these cassettes. Lennon was starting to record his memoirs on tape. He's going on about 'trying to start a revolution from me bed, because they said the brains I had went to my head". I thought 'Thank you, I'll take that'!" "Revolution from me bed" most likely refers to Lennon's infamous bed-ins in 1969 , both in the quote and in the song. The piano during the intro of the song is from "Imagine". The chord progression for both the verse and the chorus are very close to the classical piece Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel only differing slightly at the end of each phrase.

The song has become a favourite at Oasis' live performances. Noel encourages the crowd to sing along and often keeps quiet during the chorus, allowing the fans instead to sing along while he focuses on his guitar playing. The volume of crowd noise that usually descends on the chorus at concerts is easily audible on the rendition of "Don't Look Back in Anger" on Familiar to Millions.

The lyric to the song charts the lyricist's trouble keeping a relationship alive on a tour, coupled with images from an unhappy childhood. For example, the line "Stand up beside the fireplace / Take that look from off your face" is taken from Peggy Gallagher's instructions to Noel when he would have his photograph taken next to the fireplace when he was a child. An unhappy child, Noel would have to be told by Peggy to take the miserable look from his face, so as to produce a suitable picture.

The video for the song is notable for featuring Patrick Macnee, the actor who played John Steed in the 1960s television series The Avengers, apparently a favourite of the band. Whilst filming the video, drummer Alan White met future wife Liz Atkins. They married 13th August 1997 at Studley Priory Hotel, Oxfordshire, but later divorced.

The song has been used in a huge number of television programmes since its original release — perhaps most notably, it played over the end credits of the final episode of the BBC Two drama serial Our Friends in the North in March 1996, the very week it was at the top of the UK charts.

The single cover is an homage to the incident where Ringo Starr briefly left The Beatles during the recording of The White Album; after the other three Beatles members successfully persuaded him to return, George Harrison decorated Ringo's drumkit in red, white and blue flowers to show their appreciation.

The B-side "Step Out" was originally intended for the (What's the Story) Morning Glory? album but was taken off after Stevie Wonder demanded 10% of the royalties as the chorus bore a similarity to his hit "Uptight (Everything's Alright)".

Oasis became the first act since The Jam to perform two songs on the same showing of Top Of The Pops, performing "Don't Look Back In Anger", followed by their cover of Slade's "Cum on Feel the Noize", also on the single.

In a 2006 radio interview, Liam Gallagher said that it was him who came up with the line "so Sally can wait" as Noel was struggling with that particular line at the time. (Bootlegs of demos of the song feature Noel singing 'Crowley' — as in Aleister Crowley — rather than 'Sally' so there may be some truth in Liam's claim.) Noel confirms this on the bonus DVD, entitled Lock the Box, released with the Stop the Clocks retrospective album. In the interview with Colin Murray, Noel admits, "I was doing it in the sound check and the so Sally bit, I wasn't singing that...and he [Liam] says, 'Are you singing so Sally can wait?' and I said, 'No.' and he said, 'Well you should do.'"

In 2006, a poll by Q magazine voted "Don't Look Back in Anger" as the 20th best song of all time.

The song was included as the closing track on Oasis' 'best-of' album Stop the Clocks.

18 February 2008

England cricket star Graeme Swann answers questions sent in by fans on the current tour of New Zealand.

What's your best experience away from the cricket so far this tour?

Definitely the flight over because I sat next to Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher – a hero of mine. Luke Wright was originally supposed to sit next to him but he’s just a young boy-band wannabe and probably doesn’t even have a clue who he is so I got our seats swapped sharpish. It was proper Roy of the Rovers dream stuff – I’ll probably get home and find I’ve won the lottery and Newcastle are top of the Premier League. No, all right, that’s just ludicrous talk…

Britpop veterans Oasis have demonstrated their place in music lovers' hearts by securing first and second places in a new chart of the best British albums.

Fans voted the Manchester group's first two LPs ahead of established classics by The Beatles, The Clash and The Stone Roses.

The Gallagher brothers' 1994 debut, Definitely Maybe, came top in the poll by music magazine Q and retailer HMV to find the 50 Best Ever British Albums.

The follow-up, (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, came second and another two Oasis records made the top 25.

Radiohead's dense 1997 masterpiece OK Computer was third in the poll, followed by The Beatles' Revolver and The Stone Roses' self-titled debut.

The rock-dominated chart also features records by The Clash, Pink Floyd, Depeche Mode, The Smiths and Queen.

More recent artists to make the cut include Keane, Arctic Monkeys and troubled Amy Winehouse, the only female singer on the list.

Q editor Paul Rees said: "It's clear that, having polled three times more votes than any other act, Oasis are undoubtedly the nation's most loved band.

"Similarly, it's evident just who music fans believe the classic and most enduring British acts of each era to be.

"And, by that measure, the likes of Keane, Arctic Monkeys, Muse and Amy Winehouse have emerged in recent years to be seen as genuinely classic artists in the eyes of the people that matter most - those who buy music.

"In a list that features the likes of Radiohead's OK Computer and The Beatles' Revolver this list is a testament to the popularity of Oasis and their music."

Rudy Osorio, HMV head of music, added: "Most album polls of recent years have tended to see the likes of The Beatles, Radiohead and Stone Roses vie for the top five spots.

"However, as our perspective changes, it looks like many more of us are starting to recognise the iconic appeal of Oasis and the brilliance of Definitely Maybe as an era-defining album."

Millionaire rocker Liam Gallagher had a "bargin basement" wedding, spending less then £10,000 on the days celebrations.

The Oasis frontman and new wife Nicole Appleton snubbed a mega-money bash for a quiet gathering in their hotel room.

They invited a handfull of close friends and family for drinks after a ceremony in a nearby register office.

Songbird Liam, 35, who turned down "six-figure sums" from some of Britain's top glossy magazines to cover the day, shelled out for the £2,000-a-night Presidential Suite at London's five-star Landmark Hotel for the low-key celebration.

But palatial room 510 was the most expensive part of the day's fun, which cost less then the average £11,000 British wedding.

The guests, who included Nicole's All Saints pal Melanie Blatt, 32, and Liam's mum Peggy, drank their way through bottles of bubbly and cans of Stella while dining on bangers and mash.

A hotel source said: "The party went straight from the register office over the road to the hotel and locked themselves inside the Presidential Suite all night.

"The room is amazing, with a dining area for six, a huge white-carpeted living room with a massive four-poster bed.

"Liam's kids were given free rein to run around the rooms and in the hallways - they were having great fun. Everyone had a good time.

"It shows you don't have to go crazy with the money on your wedding day to enjoy yourself.

"Liams never been one to brag about cash because he knows what it's like to live on a pittance. He had nothing before Oasis made it big.

"Their wedding was about making a long-term relationship official and they did that.

"It wasn't about splashing the cash."

Liam tied the knot at the Old Marylebone Town Hall - the same venue where he married first wife Patsy Kensit, 39, in 1997. They split three years later.

He returned from Los Angeles, where he has been working on a new Oasis album and where his brother Noel, 40, is thought to have stayed, to get hitched on Thursday.

The couple posted several different dates and venues on their wedding plans to confuse the paparazzi.

Nicole, 33, spoke earlier this year about how she longed to marry her long-term boyfriend, saying: "Marriage is important to me"

15 February 2008

Paul Weller has been confirmed to appear at this year’s Exit Festival.

The former frontman of The Jam and The Style Council is heading to Serbia on July 11th. He will showcase his new double album ’22 Dreams’ on the Main Stage, as well as dipping into his extensive back catalogue.

Weller joins The Sex Pistols on the line-up, while Finnish metal act Nightwish have also been added to the bill. Tickets for the festival, which takes place from 10th-13th of July, are available for the tiny price of £72.

’22 Dreams’ will be released June and includes guest appearances from Noel Gallagher and Graham Coxon. The album will be preceded by a full UK tour in May.

Kiss, The Offspring and Lostprophets have been confirmed to headline the Download 2008 festival this summer but who else will be playing? The man booking the bands is former Rock City director Andy Copping.

As vice president of music for Live Nation, one of the world's largest concert promoters, he is responsible for organising UK tours for some of the biggest rock and rock stars.

"It was like me when I turned down Oasis to go and watch Coronation Street, remember?'"

I do. And it's a story that has been in the pages of the Evening Post in the past. In March 1994 he was offered the chance to put the band on at the Talbot Street venue for just £100.

He'd never heard of them, was busy and said no. A few weeks later they were dominating headlines.

The Britpop legend tied the knot with the All Saints star in a quiet ceremony watched by only a few friends and family.

But the happy couple more than made up for it last night with a private party in their hotel room.

Guests knocked back booze as Britney’s No1 smash Gimme More blared out of their fifth-floor suite.

Outside the door was a trolley loaded with empty champagne bottles and all-drunk cans of super-strong Stella lager.

Liam’s son Lennon, nine, and the couple’s six-year-old boy Gene yelled excitedly as they ran along the plush-carpeted corridor in London’s swanky Landmark Hotel.

But Liam’s brother Noel, 40, was not there – he is currently working in the US.

The 35-year-old singer had told chums he wanted a wedding “down-to-earth – but with a posh twist”. But he and Nicole, 33, who have been together eight years, were so desperate to keep their marriage a secret they posted a string of eight possible dates and addresses at Marylebone register office – where he had also married ex-wife Patsy Kensit.

Guests including Nicole’s sister Natalie, 34, and her Prodigy star hubby Liam Howlett, 36, attended the ceremony and then headed for the hotel for a £75 sausage dinner. But the party really got into full swing when the bride and groom invited their pals up to room 510.

After bopping to Britney the guests danced to The Who classic My Generation and then a medley of Madness songs.

Liam’s mum Peggy giggled to guests how much she loved the cake while his other brother Paul playfully bickered with a girlfriend who appeared to have had too much bubbly.

Nicole’s bandmate Melanie Blatt, 32, said: “It has been a very good day.” While fellow All Saint Shaznay Lewis, 32, joked: “God, we’re all so grown-up now!”